I was, I confess, very late the next morning, even for a rat-catcher. Mr Derry was in the middle of his breakfast; all the others had finished. We saluted, and I settled down to work.
"There is going to be a rehearsal at eleven o'clock, I believe," said Derry. "It must be nearly that now."
"I shall be there," I said, "if I have to bring the marmalade with me. You're going to coach us?"
"Well, I believe I said I would."
"Though I have never assumed the buskin myself," I went on, "I have, of course, heard of you as an amateur actor." (Liar.) "And if you could tell me how to act, while I am finishing my bacon, I should be most awfully obliged."
"Haven't you really done any?"
"Only once, when I was very small. I was the heroine. I had an offer, but I had to refuse it, I said, 'Alath, dear heart, I may not, I am married already.'"
"Very right and proper," murmured Derry.
"Well, as it turned out, I had made a mistake. It was my first who had been married already. The little play was full of surprises like."
Derry coughed, and took out his pipe. "Let me see," he began, "what's your part?"